West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-05-26

""~N ~ NhNtf anu nc actually telt the
marrow in his bones frizEle under the
glare OF her vindictive eve. As set off
TO his torture, il was bliss TO watch for a
certain graceful figure in white, walking
down the stately avenue of oaks, and TO
Jack the ordinary band of musicians
seemed a heavenly choir when pretty
Margery deigned TO lend a dainty pink
car. Another pretty woman in half
mourning, presumably the babys mamma,
was usually TO be seen with Margery now,
aud the gorgeous nursemaid and baby
were left more 20 each others society
Jack ardently wished for nearer inter
course with his charmer than from the
width of the promenade, or from one
coilcc-table 10 its fellow under the next
protecting oak. To other eyes she too X
apparently little notice of him, but she
always managed TO let him know that
she was aware of his presence. He had
CLEANED what satisfaction he could in
reading each day in The Strangers
List the names: "Mrs. Truman
infant and nurse, and Miss Bayre,
Hotel Klumpp" But this was a
short step towards acquaintance
aud each day Jack awoke with the haunt
ing dread that Margery would leave
Wildbad and bc lost TO him for ever.
One morning, over his coffee. he read in
the San Francisco ArgOnam the follow
ing paragraph:
An English gentleman, sir James N,
was walking recently in the park OF La
Gran1a, near Madrid, when he sat down on n
bench 10 rest. Presently handsome attired
nurse, carrying an infant, came and seated
herself near him. The child at once fixed
ITS eyes on the bright silver knob Of the stick
the ltnglishman was carrying, and stretched
out its arms for IT, The stranger abandoned
the coveted object TO the child 20 play with
but when, quarter OF an hour later,
he wished 10 resume his walk, the in
rant refused To give up the stick and
screamed with rage when the nurse attemp-
Tod TO take II from him. The gentleman was
Obliged TO leave without his cane but gave
his card 10 the nurse TO return it In the
evening domestic from the Court brought
the stick back TO Sir James N, with let
Ter from Queen Maria Christiana, thanking
him for the pleasure he had caused her son.
or james had made the acquaintance Of the
future King OF Spain
Jack read this paragraph carefully
twice, and sat for five minutes in deep
reflection. Then, like a man inspired.
hc arose and bctook himself 10 a quarter
OF the village where he had frequently
noticed n brio a -brac shop under the
e..
Here, after dclibcration, he selected n
walking-stick with gold knob of curl
GUS antique workmanship, paying for il
an extorhonate price, OF which he must
have felt ashamed in a cool moment.
aftcrward. lie then returned to his
hotel, and to the surprise of even the
stolid German waiter, ordered another
breakfast with the addition of honey. q
dainty which he had hitherto refused with
scorn. He barely slipped the second re-
lay of coffee, and then when no eye was
upon him, he furtively dipped the gold
knob Of his cane in the honey, half dry
ing it with his silk handkerchief, so that
the sticky substance might not be too
noticeable 10 casual glance. He then
proceeded certain pagoda overlook
ing the tunn5s,ng, fussy little river where
Mrs. Truman's baby and nurse were wont
to tarry at that hour From afar Jack
caught the glitter of the Venetian
woman's silver nimbus; and the glow of
her cap-ribkons, bright crimson this
time, made warm dash Of color in the
landscape. The baby seemed particu-
lafly afIable, and Jack. though in the
bottom Of his heart profoundly indifTer-
ent to all humanity at the tender, angelic
stage, sat down beside and began ia
beam upon this infant with hypocritical
smile, holding his new stick in tempting
prominence.
JOY unspealSable, the bait tookl The
serious infantile eye frightened. tho
cherubic fists clutched the cane and con
veycd the bright knob TO the cver-rccep-
tive mouth, where it was enoulfed with
n moist gurgle OF delight. No need for
fear that the scion Of the house of Tru-
man would relinquish without n strupple
that seductive aggregate Of glitterino gold
knob and honey. Jack made disgrace.
fully feeble effort 30 regain his property.
but the baby defeated him with one in.
articulatc snort and reproachful roll Of
his solemn blue eyes. With q deprcci.
ating shrug OF the shoulders this finished
hypOcritc left the infant Truman In Fri.
umphant possession of the stick. and
withdrew, giving card with his address
90 the bc-ribbonGd nurse, and murmuripo
some indistinct tumble about the hap.
picst moments Of his life being when hc
found himself able TO contribute TO the
amusement OF so charming child.
lie went home in blissfuI anticipatiou
for the result, perhaps Mrs Truman
would be indisposcd 10 write. and a
swcetly wordcd note OF thanks for hi,
amiability would come from Miss Marpcry
instead-Or, delicious possibility the
ladies might express tlreir acknowlcdp
mcnts in words, when ncxt4hey all met
on the promenade. At any rate. the ice
would be broken, and Jack already saw
himself invited TO the cofTee-table Of an
afternoon, instead Of sitting in his usual
bachelor solitude
The next morning note was brough,
to him, which he tore open eagerly and
read
Mr. Aiken Is requested % claim his rrop.
erty no Room 80. ~ Hotel Klumpp ateleven
o'clock this morning
There was no name signed. and Jack
was vaguely disappointed at the tcrscncss
Of the competition still, the invitation
was an honor and dressing with
great care Jack presented himself at the
hotel at the appointed hour lie was
shown into No. ~, and TO his amazemcnt
found himself face TO face with Miss
TrOtt. his enemy Of the Konipsstuhl
Too taken aback 90 defend himself. he
stood meek as q lamb, while the ladv
more iratc than ever, overwhelmed him
with 2 vollcv Of abuse As the storm
subsidcd and she grew a little calmcr. she
began:
Now, sir. YOU will please explain TO
me how my brothers gold headed stick
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